[LL] Raikka, Mistress of the Homunculi (v.3.11)

[Cossack Mamai]

***HERO***
Raikka Spellseeker

***Allies (18)***
4x Barrenland Gremlin
4x Plightbred Runt
4x Brimstone Devourer
4x Voracious Arachnid
2x Armored Packbeast

***Abilities (13)***
3x Lightning Strike
2x Transmogrification Curse
2x Consuming Fear
4x Stoneskin
2x Spontaneous Growth

***Items (6)***
4x Abomination Factory
2x Splicer’s Crown

***Location (4)***
4x Rankett: Proving Grounds

TOTAL: 41 cards + Hero

This is an attempt to create a homunculi based deck. And I’m still testing it.
I chose Raikka because of two reasons. At first she is an ally-focused hero – her ability helps to protect your homunculi. At second her shadow ability is the cheapest in comparison with other mages.

Barrenland Gremlin and Voracious Arachnid are your main force. Gremlin grows extremely fast and Arachnid can cope easily with “noisy” allies such as Eternal Troll. Small Gremlin is an easy target so you need several copies of Stoneskin to protect him.

Your draw engines are Spontaneous Growth and Rankett: Proving Grounds. I’m not sure about Tome of Knowledge or Bad Santa in this deck.
Transmogrification Curse and Consuming Fear are needed to deal with fatties.

I think that the ideal scenario is:
T1: Barrenland Gremlin
T2: Stoneskin
T3: Abomination Factory + discard Plightbred Runt or Brimstone Devourer (it depends on the situation) + activate Gremlin’s ability + activate Rankett: Proving Grounds
T4: Voracious Arachnid
T5: Armored Packbeast

This deck is fun to play. Especially when your allies grow to enormous size But it also has some weaknesses. I think you’ve mentioned that there are no item removals. Any ideas? I also have some doubts about creature removals. What is better: Lightning Strike, Fireball or Supernova?
I’ll appreciate your advice. Thanks in advance!

[maxi1230]

I also have an Raikka Homunculus. And she rocks. I think the problem people have when building a Raikka deck is that they think of her as a mage. Allies are way better in her than burn is though. Your deck is midrange, however I think Homunculus allies + Location just scream for rush. No need for ID then

[FDL]

I like Humunc Raikka in an all-in aggressive deck shell too. No real need for removal or ID. Even Protection isn't really relevant. The deck doesn't draw enough to play a longer game anyways.

Rotling is a nice 1cc option to turn Ranket on and it leads to pretty busted openings going first (going second an opposing 2 drop will kill this).

T1 Rotling
T2 Factory
T3 Arachnid + Ranket
Discard Runt and you can have an attacking 3/3 and a 4/8 or an attacking 4/4 and 3/7. If you kill something Arachnid groes by +1/+0;
or Discard Brimstone to kill something and have a 2/2 + 4/7 or 3/3 + 3/6;
or Discard something else and have a 2/2 + 3/7 or 3/3 + 2/6.

(Gremlin can also attack for 3 or 4 on turn 3 if it eats a piece of the factory)

It doesn't really matter at that point if they kill one of your guys. You should be ahead for the rest of the game.

To build in some resiliency, I prefer some Trolls over Packbeasts or abilities.

[CyrisT]

Cultist could add some nice synergy, and consistency with the card draw.